1. The Charter of the Organization of American States provides that the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights ("the IACHR" or "the Commission")
shall be a principal organ of the Organization and that its main task shall
be to promote respect for and the protection of human rights and serve as the
advisory body to the Organization in this field. In keeping with that provision,
the Commission has employed various mechanisms and practices in the fulfillment
of its functions and mandates, which include, inter alia, on-site visits, the
preparation of comprehensive and/or ad hoc reports, the investigation of complaints
brought by individuals and various other activities for the promotion of human
rights.

2. In that context, the IACHR has been analyzing the general situation of human
rights in Mexico. The decision to carry out an on-site visit, in order to evaluate
the situation first hand, was based on the invitation extended by President
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce De Leon taken at the Commission's ninety-first session.
The visit itself took place from 15 to 24 July 1996,(1) under
the legal framework of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter
"the American Convention") of which Mexico is a State Party, as well
as the Statute and Regulations of the Commission.

3. The aim of this report is to evaluate the human rights situation in Mexico
in the light both of the information and documentation which were compiled and
analyzed in the normal course of the Commission's work and of the findings and
abundant data which resulted from the visit and which have since been updated.

II. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

4. In recent years, Mexico has made considerable efforts to reform its institutions
and adapt them to the demands of a modern democratic State governed by its Constitution
and the rule of law. In that respect, emphasis must be placed on the significant
political reforms that have been implemented in Mexico, which have brought about
improvements in the electoral system through impartial regulatory bodies that
are independent of the Government. The voter registration photo-ID card, which
was introduced in 1992, also marked a major step forward insofar as it instilled
in the various participants and in voters at large confidence in the electoral
system. What is more, the fact that the various political parties reached consensus
on approving the reforms was a reflection of the importance of those reforms
and the undeniable climate of confidence and fairness which they helped to create.

5. This process was put to the test in the recent elections held on July 6,
1997, which were noted for their competitiveness, transparency, large voter
turnout, and normalcy, as well as for the fact that the results were accepted
by the majority of the participants. It is worth mentioning that the opposition
obtained a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, and that it won the elections
to head the Federal District, and the gubernatorial elections in Querétaro and
Nuevo León. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, the importance of the
reforms and the need for the people to have a more open and transparent electoral
system are apparent.

6. The subject of human rights has been a key element in these reforms. A National
Human Rights Commission (CNDH) was established by the Presidential Decree of
5 June 1990 as an independent agency within the Ministry of the Interior. The
constitutional reform of 29 June 1992 transformed the National Commission into
an independent public body with its own legal personality and separate budget.
The same constitutional reform also paved the way for the establishment of human
rights organizations in the various states.

7. There can be no doubt that the advent of these organizations in Mexico has
had a positive impact on the protection and promotion of human rights. In the
years since their establishment, the national and state human rights commissions
have investigated numerous complaints, made important recommendations and, to
a large extent, won the trust of the population, which now feels more secure
in the knowledge that specialized institutions are working to promote respect
for fundamental rights.

8. The Commission would like to make special reference to the recent announcement
by the Mexican State that it has decided to recognize the compulsory jurisdiction
of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. This decision was reported by the
Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rosario Green, during a speech
given in Santafé de Bogotá on April 30, 1998, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary
of the founding of the Organization of American States. The IACHR will be following
with great interest the completion of the internal process of ratification of
that decision, which is certain to have a highly positive impact on its relationship
with the Mexican State, and which confirms Mexico's commitment to the full and
effective exercise of human rights in the country.

9. Despite the considerable progress made at the institutional level, the human
rights situation in Mexico is certainly complex. The developments referred to
above, however, are evidence of the country's desire to make the changes that
are required to promote more effective protection and respect for human rights
in Mexico.

III. THE ON-SITE VISIT

10. During its stay in Mexico, the Commission visited the Federal District
and the states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Baja California in order to meet with
state authorities and representatives of civil society. At all times during
the visit, the Commission enjoyed complete freedom and members were able to
travel about the country and to meet with representatives of all sectors, individuals
and groups.

11. Participating in the visit were those persons who were members of the Commission
in 1996: Dean Claudio Grossman (the then Chairman); Ambassador John S. Donaldson
(the then First Vice-Chairman); Dr. Carlos Ayala Corao (Rapporteur for Mexico
and then Second Vice-Chairman); Dr. Oscar Luján Fappiano: Ambassador Alvaro
Tirado Mejía; Dr. Jean Joseph Exumé and Professor Robert Kogod Goldman. Members
of the Commission were also assisted by the Executive Secretary, Ambassador
Jorge E. Taiana; Assistant Executive Secretaries, Dr. David Padilla and Dr.
Domingo Acevedo; Dr. Osvaldo Kreimer, Senior Legal Counsel and Mr. Ibrahim García,
the Commission's Legal Counsel for Mexican Affairs. Administrative support was
provided by the secretaries Tania Hernández, Rosario McIntyre, Martha Keller.

12. During its visit, the Commission had the opportunity to meet with the President
of Mexico, Dr. Ernesto Zedillo, and with other high-level federal, state and
district officials, as well as with church dignitaries, businessmen, representatives
of the media and non-governmental human rights organizations and other representatives
of civil society.

13. The Commission acquainted itself with the main aspects of the complex and
delicate human rights situation in Mexico and gathered valuable information
which has been very useful for the preparation of this comprehensive report.
The broad program of visits permitted the most diverse sectors of Mexico's social
and political communities to share with the Commission their views on the human
rights situation in Mexico. This first visit undertaken at the invitation of
the Mexican State enabled the Commission to deepen its relationship with the
State and civil society of Mexico so that together they could continue their
ongoing task of protecting and promoting human rights.

IV. SOURCES

14. In keeping with the Commission's normal practice, the documents and individual
complaints received during the on-site visit have been or will be duly processed
in accordance with its statutory provisions. In its report, the Commission referred
to the different types of information which it received before, during and after
its visit. Great importance has therefore been attached to the consideration
of the information provided by the Mexican State and by non-governmental human
rights organizations, which have made a valuable contribution to this report.
Account was also taken of the official documents and legal norms that were compiled
in the course of the Commission's work.

15. By virtue of the provisions of Article 62 of its Regulations, the Commission
forwarded the first version of this report to the Mexican State on March 4,
1998, and requested it to send back its comments on it within two months' time.
On May 11, 1998, the State sent the Commission a document entitled: "Comments
and Observations on the IACHR Report on the Status of Human Rights in Mexico."
This document contains a series of general considerations regarding the Commission's
report, in addition to the State's evaluation, opinions, explanations, suggestions,
and updated information. All of this information was analyzed by the Commission
and, the relevant material was incorporated into the final version of the approved
report.

V. OUTLINE OF THE REPORT

16. The present report on the situation of human rights in Mexico is divided
into ten chapters. Chapter 1 contains a description of the structure of the
Mexican State based on the constitutional provisions of the United Mexican States.
The later chapters of the report are concerned with the issue of the enjoyment
of human rights in Mexico, with specific reference to: social and economic rights,
political rights, the right to justice, freedom and personal integrity, the
right to life, the situation of indigenous peoples, the human rights of women,
and lastly the right to freedom of thought and expression. The last chapter
of the report contains final conclusions and recommendations.

VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

17. The Commission wishes to acknowledge the cooperation it received during
its visit from the State of Mexico and the assistance provided by State officials
in the form of up to date information, without which the Commission would have
been unable to successfully complete its task.

18. The Commission also wishes to acknowledge the work done by non-governmental
organizations and by individuals and institutions of Mexican civil society.
Thanks to the complaints and reports which it receives from them, the Commission
has been able to monitor on an ongoing basis the human rights situation in this
important country.

Notes___________________

1. The Chairman of the Commission during its ninety-first session
was Ambassador Alvaro Tirado Mejía. The visit to Mexico took place during the
following year when the Chairman was Dean Claudio Grossman. Since 1996, the
Commission's rapporteur for Mexico has been Dr. Carlos Ayala Corao, who was
appointed Chairman of the Commission as of 1 January 1998.